Extensible fastening device for trunks, suitcases, and the like



Maqch 19, 1929. E. N. KENNEDY ,705,5

- EXTENSIBLE FASTENING DEVICE FOR TRUNKS', SUITCASES, AND THEPIKE Filed April 1'7, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet T anoe/ntoz E. N. Kearney. $51 M fitter/W 6 I arch 19, 1929. E N

EXTENSIBLE FASTENING DEVICE FOR TRUNKS, SUITCASIES, AND THE LIKE Filed April 17, 1925 2 Sheets-Shet 2 .E. N Kennedy.

awuemtoz Patented Mar. 19, 1929.

nits s ERNEST NOBBERT KENNEDY, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

Application filed April 17, 1925. Serial No. 23,768.

This invention relates to extensible fastening or connecting devices, intended particueither in the fully telescoped position of saidparts, Or in any expanded position thereof.

As an example of the kind of expansible trunk or the like with which the fastening or connecting devices forming the subject matter of the present invention are particularly intended for use, reference may be made to my Patent No. 1,508,142 issued September 9, 192 1, in which the trunk or the like comprises a lower part and an upper part. arranged to telescope the one in the other, the extensible fastening or connecting devices at one side of the trunk or the like being in the nature of hinges, whereby the upper part or lid of the trunk may be swung about the hinge devices to open or close the trunk, while the fastening devices at the other side of the trunk or the like are in the nature of latching devices secured to one part of the trunk and adapted to cooperate with a lock on the other part of the trunk in order'that the trunk parts may be securely locked in the closed position thereof.

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved form of fastening or connecting device which is of more efficient and rigid construction and facilitates the manufacture and assemblage of the device and the securing of the same to the trunk, suitcase or the like, and also facilitates the closing or contraction of the trunk or suitcase to the desired size.

c it is to be understood that the term fastening device is intended to be a general term and to include within its scope different specific constructions of device, such for example, as the form of the device which is intended to serve as a hinge member, and the form of the device which is intended to serve as a latcl'iing member adapted to cooperate with a latch or lock of suitable construction.

The invention also comprises the provision of means operable to release the extensible hinge members of the trunk, suitcase or the like order to facilitatethe opening of the i or suitcase.

nvention is illustrated in detail in the anying Armin gs in which:

Figure 1 is an underneath plan View of one form of the fastening device intended to serve as a locking device.

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the fastening device with the lower plate 'or closure member removed, certain of the parts being in section.

Fig. 3 is a side sectional view of the device, the section being taken approximately on the line Illl1l of Fig. 1.

Fig. at is an end sectional view, the section being taken on the line IV-IV of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the ratchet rack element of thedevice.

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional plan view on an enlarged scale showing, the teeth of the ratchet rack element. I

Figs. 7 and 8 are detail plan and side elevational views showing the modification of the form of the device to enable the same to serve as a hinge device. 1

Fig. 9 is a view showing two hinge members of a trunk, suitcase or the like, with means for releasing said hinge members to permit extension thereof to facilitate opening of the trunk or suitcase.

Fig. 10 is a sectional plan view of the arrangement shown in Figure 9.

Fig. 1 is a detailed sectional side view showing the releasing mechanism, and

Figure 12 is a perspective View of a part of the hinge device showing the manner of assembling the releasing element.

The fastening device" comprises two main parts A and B, ofwhich the part B is slidably or telescopically arranged within the part A, and is provided with a pawl element C which is adapted when in the dotted line operative position shown in Fig. 2, to cooperate with a ratchet rack element D, the pawl and ratchet "elements being so arranged as to permit the part B to be telescoped into the part A, but to prevent withdrawal of the part B while the pawl and ratchet elements remain in operative relation. The pawl element 0 is, however, adapted to be released from the rack element D, to permit the parts A and B to be extended, by means of a third part E carried by the part B.

'lhe-partli of the device comprises an upper or outer member 1, which is of chann elshaped cross section, one end of said member being open, and the other end being closed by bending ever an extended portion 2' of the web at thememherintn an sine? F. with ment so as to enable the teeth to the ends of the sideportions or flanges of said member, as clearly shown in Fig. The open side or face of the channelsl1aped member 1 is adapted to be closed by means of an inner or. lower member or plate 3, the members 1. and 3 being provided with registering or overlapping apertnred' ears or lugs 41. The part A, formed by the members 1 and 3, may be secured to one part of the trunk, suitcase or the like, by rivets or the like passed through the apertures of the cars 41, or the members 1 and 3 may be initially secured together, as by means eyelets, through which the rivets for securing the said part A to the trunk or the like may be passed.

The ratchet rack element D carriedby the part A is a separate element, most clearly shownin Fig. 5, and is of channel-shaped I cross section having side members or flanges 5. This ratchet element fits within the part A of the device, with the web of the element bearing against the web of the member 1, and with the flan 5 bearing against the member or plate 3. The ratchet element is securely held in place within the part A by means of projections or lugs (S on the flanges 5 at one end thereof engaging notches or recesses 7 in the ad iacent end of the plate 3, and by means of projections or lugs 8 on the flanges 5 at the other end thereof engaging apertures or slots 9 at the other end of the plate 3. One of the flanges 5 of the ratchet element is provided. with the ratchet rack teeth 10, which are formed by making a plurality of apertures 11 in said flange, so that the metal leftbetween said apertures forms the ratchet teeth 10. Each piece of metal forming a ratchet tooth is pressed outwardly at one edge thereof as is clearly shown the drawings and particularly in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, so that each tooth will be inclined inwardly from its enter to its inner edge in the direction of movement of the part B inwardly within the part A, whereby dn ng this relative movement between the parts A and B the pawl element 0 will by engagement with the inclined surface of a ratchet tooth be pressed inwardly, and after passing said tooth will again snap out-- wardly to engage the inner or rear edge of the tooth so as to firmly hold the parts A and 13 against relative movement in the reverse direction. it will be seen that by this construction a very elliciently acting ratchet arrang ment is pr v' cd, the action of the ratchet arrangement being greatly facilitated due to the inclined formation of the ratchet rack teeth while at the sametime each tooth remains as an integral part of the ratchet eleist any separate the parts force tending to extend or A and B.

V The part B comprises two relatively reversed channel-snaped members 12, 13 with the member 13 fitting within the member 12 as clearly shown in, Fig. 1. The part B, comprising these two members 12, 13, is slid-ably arranged between the side flanges 5 of the ratchet rack element D, the side flanges of the mom or 12 preferably fitting closely between the flanges 5 of the element D in order to prevent undesired looseness or play. One of the flanges 14: of the member 12 is provided at the innermost end thereof with a projection or lug 15 which is adapted to slide within a longitudinal slot 16 inthe plate 3 of the part A, the engagement of this projection 15 with the outermost end of the slot 18 limiting the movement of the part B and preventing its complete withdrawal from the part The two members 12, 13 enclose between them the pawl elementC which is in the form of a lever 17 pivoted at 1'8, and a spring (not shown) is provided. acting upon the lever 17 and tending to press the same from the full line position, F in; 2, to the dotted line position in that figure in which the hook-ed or pawl-shaped end 19 of the lever is in engagement with one of the teeth 1O of the ratchet element D. The end surface of the pawlshaped end 19 is preferably inclined at 20 in order to more effectively co-act with the inclined teeth of the ratchet element.

The pawl lever 17 is moved about its pivot 18 from the dotted line position Fig. 2 to the full line position, in order to release the pawl 9 19 from the ratchet element D, by the movement of the part E. In the form of the device shown in Figs. '1, 2 and 3 this part E is in the form of the hasp 21 of a lock, the part A of the device being adapted to be secured. 10 to one partof the trunk or the like, and the hasp 21 having the eye 22 adapted to cooper atewith a lock of suitable construction secured to the other part of the trunk or the like, The hasp 21 is pivotally connected with the members 12, 13 of the part B by means of the pivot pin 23, and a spring 2 l is coiled about said pivot pin and tending to move the hasp from the latched position thereof, as inFig. 1, to the unlatched position thereof, as in Figs. 2 and 3. The hub part 25 of the hasp between the flanges of the member 13 is provided with a cam surface 26 con-. centric with the pin 23 and which is adapted during movement of the hasp from the latched 1 position of Fig. 1 to the unlatched position of F ig. '2 to engage the end 27 of the lever 17 so as to move the pawl-shaped end 19 of said lever from the dotted line to the full line position of Fig. 2. Thus when the latch is operated to release the hasp 21 the spring 24 turns this hasp into the position shown in F igs. 2 and 3, and the cam surface 26 moves the lever '17 into the full line position of F 2, in which the pawl 19 is released from the ratchet element so as to permit the parts A and B to be separated or extend-ed. When the hasp 21 is moved back again into engage ment with the latch or look the spring (not shown) moves the lever 17 back into the 130 A and B dotted line position in which the pawl 19 engages, the ratchet element and holds the parts against extension.

The parts A and B are shown in a more extended position in Fig. 3 than in Figures 1 and 2, in order to i more clearly show the ratchet teeth 10.

lVhen the fastening device is to serveas a hinge device, the part E, as shown in Figs; 7 and 8, takes the form of a hinge member 28 provided with apertures 29 by means of which said hinge member may be secured to one part of the trunk or the like, the part A being secured to the other-part of the trunk. The member 28 is pivotally connected to the part B by the pivot pin QEPand the hub portion 25 of the hii'lge member is provided with a cam surface (not shown) similar to the cam surface 26 and so arranged that in the relative position of the parts 15 and 1 shown in full lines in Fig. 8, the pawl lever 1'? is pressed by its spring into engagement with the ratchet element so as to prevent extension of the parts A and B, while when the part B occupies the position shown in dotted linesin Fig. 8 relatively to the part E due to the swinging of the upper part or lid 01 the trunk or the like into the open position, the cam surface will have moved the lever into the position shown in full lines in Fig. 2, in which the pawl 19 is released from the ratchet element, so as to permit extension of the parts A. and B.

It will be understood that in the use of the fastening devices with an expansible trunk, suitcase or the like, the parts A of thehinge and latching devices at opposite sidesot the suitcase are secured toone part oi said case,

for example the lid, and'the hinge members 28 will be secured to the other part of said suitcase, while the hasps 21 will be arranged to co-act with latches or locks on the last mentioned part of the suitcase. Vfhen the latter has been packed to the desired extent, the parts A and B of the hinge devices are extended by movement of the lid and parts A, this being permitted as the cam surfaces of the hinge members 28 have moved the pawl elements C out of engagement with the rack elements D, and then the lid is swung over into the closed position and the parts B of the locking devices extended so that the hasps 21 can be engaged with and held by the locks. This extension of said parts it is permitted as the hasps are in the unlatched positions of Figs. 2 and 3, while when the hasps are engaged with the latches or looks they assume the position oi 1 in which the pawl elements C are engaged with the ratchet elements D preventing further extension of the parts B. The movement of the lid of the suitcase, and therewith the parts B of the hinge devices, has also caused the pawl elements of said devices to be engaged with the ratchet elements Dso as to prevent further ments so as to securely prevent extensionof the fastening devices and. reverse movement of the 11d of the suitcase. It will be seen that the ratchet element 13 of strong and rlgld construction and that it is securely held in I place by reason of its engagement with the plate 3 of the part A, and that thewhole arrangement provides a very strong and etlicient device for the purposeintended.

It will be understood that the pawl element C of the hinge members, as shown. in part in Figures land 8, are released when the part of the suitcase or the like to which the part A of the device is attached is swung about the pivots 23 of the hinge members to open the suitcase or the like, this movement carrying the part B of the hinge device into the dotted line'position shown in Fig. 8. Some difiiculty may be experiencedin swinging the upper part of the suitcase or the like into this open position, particularly when the partsof the suitcase or the like are in the fully telescoped position. This difliculty may be avoided .in the manner described in the aforesaid Patent No. 1,508,142 by making the parts of the trunk or suitcase of rhombic cross section, that is by making the front and rear walls of the suitcase parts parallel with one another but inclined with regard to the top and bot tom walls of said parts. v a

Alternatively means may be provided for releasing the pawl elements of the "hinge devices, so that when the latching devices have been released, and thehinge devices released by the means provided forthis purpose, the lid of the suitcase or the like may be first raised, the hinge. devices extending to permit this raising movement, and may then. be swung over to open the suitcase or the like.

)ne form of means for effecting this re= lease of the hinge devices is shown in Figs. 9 to 12. In Fig. 9 there are shown two hinge devices which as illustrated are of the same form as the devices shown in the preceding figures of the drawings, Fi 9 showing those faces of the devices which fit against the respective parts of the suitcase. The pawl ele ments C are shown in. dotted lines in the positions they occupy when the parts A and B of the hinge devices are locked or held against extension, that is when the suitcase partsare closed.

A slidable releasing element or bar 30 is provided which may have portions 31 bearing against the side of the suitcase and relatively oflset portions 32 fitting against the adjacent faces of the parts B of the hinge devices. The portions 32 of the releasing bar are )rovided with projections or lugs 33 whic extend into the interior of the parts B of the hinge devices adjacent the ends 27 of I A relativelyto the parts B of the hinge devices and permits the lid or upper part of the suitcase or vthe like to be first raised and then swung about the hinge devices into open position. This swinging movemem as before described brings the cams 26 of the members 28 into engagement with the ends 97 of the pawl levers 17 to positively hold the pawl ends 19 out of engagement with the rack elements. The ends of the releasing bar 30 may be suitably shaped as at 3st to facilitate operation of said bar.

In the particular construction of-the parts of the releasing bar and hinge device each of the lugs or projections 33 is of substantially T-shaped form and is formed by pressing out a portion. of metal from the bar as incicated at 35, Fig. 9, and bending up this T- shaped part substantially perpendicular to the bar. The inner channel shaped member .13 of the part B of the hinge device is provided in the web port-ion thereof with a slot 36 which is-adapted to receive the reduced or neck portion of thelug 33 but is of less width than the head of said lug. One of the flanges 37 of said channel member 13 is provided with a slot or opening 38 which is of a width suflicient toenable the head of the lug 33 to pass therethrough. Thus when assembling the part B and the releasing bar the lug of the releasing bar may bereadily passed-laterally through the opening 38 into the position indicated in Figures 10 and 12 with the face of the portion 32 of the bar against the face of the channel member 13. The head of the lug 33 being of greater width than the slot 36 prevents withdrawal of the bar other than by a reverse lateralmovement and when the outer channel member 12 of the part B embraces the channel member 13 it'closcs the opening 38 and thus entirely prevents withor bar might be provided for each hinge device if so desired.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters 3 part, a pawl element movably mounted with V in the other of said parts and adapted to coact with said rack element to prevent extension of said parts, and means for releasing said pawl elementfrom said rack element.

2. An extensible fastening deivice, com prising in combination, two parts slidable one within the other, one of said parts consisting of two members arranged toform an enclosure, a ratchet rack element separate from and arranged between said members and enclosed thereby, a pawl element movably mounted within the other of said parts and adapted to coact with said rack element to prevent extension of said parts, and means for releasing said pawl element from said rack element. I

3. An extensible fastening device, comprising in combination, two parts slidable one within the other, one of said parts consisting of a channel member, and a plate member associated therewith to form an enclosure, a ratchet. rack element arranged between said members and enclosed thereby, means for holding said ratchet element against movement, a pawl element movably mounted withinthe other of said parts and adapted to coact with said rack element to prevent extension of said parts, and means for 'releasing said pawl element from said rack element.

4. An extensible fastening device, comprising in combination, two parts slidable one within the other, one of said parts consisting of a channel member, and a plate member associated therewith to form an enclosure, a channel-shaped rack element arranged between said members and enclosed thereby with the web portion of said element bearing against one of said members and the flanges of said element bearing against the other of said members, means for holding said ratchet GlCHlGDt against movement, a pawl element carried by the other ofsaid parts and adapted to coact with said rack element to parevent extension of said parts, and means, for releasing'said pawl element from said rack element.

5. An extensiile fastening device, comprising in combination, two parts slidable one within the other, one of said parts consisting of a channel member, and a plate member associated therewith to form an enclosure, a channel-shaped ratchet rack element arranged between said members and enclosed thereby with a web of said element bearing against the web of said channel memher and the flanges of said' element bearing against said plate member, said flanges having projections ccacting with apertures or recesses in said plate member to hold said ratchet element against movement, a pawl element carried by the other of said parts and adapted to coact with said rack element to prevent extension of said parts, and means for releasing said pawl element from said rack element.

(3. An extensible fastening device, comprising in combination, two parts slidable one within the other, a ratchet rack element carried by one of said parts, a pawl element carried by the other of said parts and adapted to coast with said rack element to prevent extension of said parts, said rack element having apertures formed therein and having the metal between said apertures pressed outwardly to form ratchet teeth having inclined surfaces, said pawl element being arranged to coact with said inclined surfaces during rela: tive inward movement of said parts, and

' means for releasing said pawl element from said rack element.

7. an extensible fastening device,'co1nprising incoinbination, two parts slidable one witnin the other, a channel shaped ratchet ract: element carried by one of said parts, a pawl element carried by the other of said parts and adapted to coact with said rack element to prevent extension of said parts, said rack element having apertures formed in one of the flanges thereof and having teeth between said apertures provided with inclined inner faces, said pawl element being arranged to coact with said inclined surfaces during relative inward movement of said parts, and means for releasing said pawl element from .aid rack element.

S. An extensible fastening device, comprising in combination, twoparts slidabie one within the other, a ratchet rack element carried by one of said parts, a pawl element carried by the other of said parts and adapted to coact with said rack element to prevent extension of said parts, said rack element having apertures formed therein and having the metal between said apertures pressed outwardly to form ratchet teeth having inclined surfaces, said pawl element having an inclined face to coact' with said inclined. surfaces during relative inward movement of said parts, and means for releasing said pawl element from said rack element.

9. An extensible fastening device, comprising in combination, two parts slidable one within the other, a ratchet rack element separate from, and enclosed within, and held against movement by one of said p arts, a pawl element carried by the otherof said parts, and adapted to coact with said element to prevent extension of said parts, a member pivotally connected to the pawl carrying 111g movement of said member about its pivot in one direction to release said pawl from said rack element, and a spring normally urging said pawl element into engagement with said raclr element. I

10. An extensible fastening device, comprisingin coii'i'bination, two parts slidable one within the other, a ratchet rack element separate from, and enclosed within, and held againstmovement by one of said parts, 'a pawl element carried by the other of said parts, and adapted to coact with said element to prevent extension of said parts, said racir element having apertures therein and having teeth between said apertures provided with inner inclined faces, said pawl being arranged to coact with said inclined faces during relative inward movement of said parts, a,member-pivotally connected torthe pawl carrying part and having a cam surface-arranged during movement of said mem-. her about its pivot in one direction to release said pawl from said rack element, and a spring normally urging said pawl element into engagement with said rack element.

11. An extensible fastening device, comprising in combination, two parts slidable one within the other, a ratchet rack element carried by one of said parts,a pawl element carried by the other of said parts and a dapted to coact with said rack element to prevent extension of said parts, and two independently operable means for effectingrelease of said 1 pawl element from said racli element. 7

12. An extensible fastening device, co1n-' prising in combination, two parts slidable one within the other, a ratchet rack element carried by one of said parts, a pawl element carried by the other of said parts and adapted to coact with said rack elementvto prevent extension of said parts, amember hing edly connected to said pawl carrying part and adapted during movement in one direc tion to release said pawl element from said rack element, and independent means for releasing said pawl element. v

13. An extensible fastening device, comprisingin combination, two parts slidable one within the other, a ratchet rack element carried by one of said parts, a pawl element carried by the other of said parts and adapted to coact with said rack element to prevent extension of said parts, a member hingedly connected to said pawl carrying part and adapted during movement inone direction to release said pawl element from said rack element, and an independent element'slidably movable to release'said pawl element.

14. An extensible fastening device, comprising in combination, two parts slidable one within the other, a ratchet rack element carried by one of said parts, a pawl element carried bythe other of said parts and adapted to coactwith said rack element to prevent extension of said parts, a-member hinged to said pawl carrylng part and adapted during movement in one d1rect1on to release said pawl element from said rack element, said pawl element being arranged to be movable independently of said hinged member to release the same from said rack element.

15. An extensible fastening crevice, com prising in combination, two parts slidable one Within the other, a ratchet rack element carried by one of said parts, a pawl element carried by the other of said parts and adapted to coact with said rack element to prevent extension of said parts, a member hinged to said pawl carrying element and adapted during movement in one direction to release said pawl element from said rack element, and independently operable means carried by said pawl carrying part and operable to release said pawl element. I V

16. An extensible fastening device, comprising in combination, two parts slidable one within the other, a ratchet rack element carried by one of said parts, a pawl element carried by the other of said parts and adapted to coact with said rack element to prevent extension of said parts, a member hinged to said pawl carrying part and adapted during movement in one direction to release said pawl element from said rack element, anda slidable element having a projection extendparts slidable one within the other, one of said parts being secured to one of said members, a ratchet raclr element carried by said part, a pawl carried by the other of said parts and adapted to coact with said rack element to prevent extension of said parts, and a member hingedly connected to said pawl carrying part and secured to the other part of the suitcase, said hinge member being arranged during relative movement in one direction between the same and said pawl carrying part to release said pawl element from said rack element, and means operable to simultaneously release both pawl elements of said hinge devices from the respective rack elements.

In testimony whereof I atlix my signature.

E. NORBERT KENNEDY. 

